Internal parasitic burdens in brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Grenada, West Indies

Abstract

This study identified the endoparasites in Brown rat ( Rattus norvegicus) during May to July 2017 in Grenada, West Indies. A total of 162 rats, 76 females and 86 males were trapped from St. George and St. David parishes in Grenada. The collected fecal samples were examined for parasitic eggs and/or oocysts using simple fecal flotation technique. Adult parasites found in the intestinal tract were examined for identification. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites among rats was 79 %. Ten helminth species were recovered, several of which were reported for the first time in rodents in Grenada. The internal parasites consist of seven nematodes ( Angiostrongylus spp., Nippostrongylus braziliensis , Heterakis spumosa , Strongyloides ratti , Aspiculuris tetraptera , Syphacia spp. and Protospirura spp.), one cestode ( Hymenolepsis diminuta ), one acanthocephalan ( Moniliformis moniliformis ) and one protozoa species ( Eimeria spp.). The most prevalent zoonotic species were Angiostrongylus spp. (35.2%), Hymenolepsis diminuta (7.4%) and Moniliformis moniliformis (3.1%). Several nonzoonotic endoparasites; which included Nippostrongylus braziliensis (50.6%), Heterakis spumosa (15.4%), Strongyloides ratti (43.2%), Aspiculuris tetraptera (2.5%), Syphacia spp . (1.9%), Protospirura spp. (1.2%) and Eimeria spp. (4.7%) were also identified. The most prevalent parasites were Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (50.6%), Strongyloides ratti (43.2%) and Angiostrongylus spp. (35.2%). Co-infections occurred with up to six species per rat showing different combinations of parasitic infections.

Anthropophilic Small Mammals: Potential Source of Zoonotic Enteric Parasites in the Commune of Abobo, District of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)

“…Comparing the prevalence rates with other countries, the prevalence of 33.3% is higher than in 13.9% in Pakistan (Ahmad et al, 2014) but lower than in Brazil and in Grenada (Indies), where rates of 73.6% and 79% were reported (Coomansingh-Springer et al, 2019;Lima et al, 2021) These variations may be attributed to differences in the level of sanitation between the study sites and local ecological conditions influencing the epidemiology of parasites (Shah-Fischer & Say, 1989). Another study in Pakistan reported similar results with a prevalence of 33.3% (Garedaghi & Khaki, 2014) .…”

First cases of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection reported in Martinique, 2002–2017

“…No study has evaluated infection of rats with A. cantonensis in Martinique. In neighbouring Grenada [8,10], Puerto Rico [4], Dominican Republic [45], Haiti [40], Jamaica [46], and Cuba [2], the proportion of infected Rattus spp. varies from 23.4% to 60.0% [2,8], while the parasite appears to be absent in rats in Barbados [25].…”

The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in wild rats (muridae) in pilajau oil palm plantation of Sawit Kinabalu Group, Membakut Sabah Malaysia

“…are the most common helminths found in rats (Amin et al, 2019;Coomansigh-Springer et al, 2018;Lima et al, 2021). For comparison, helminths recorded the most endoparasites found in wild rats as protozoa (Coomansingh-Springer et al, 2019). Earlier studies revealed that oil palm estate workers in plantation areas were also potentially infected by common helminth species, H.diminuta and H.nana (Sinniah et al, 1978).…”